Police received a call Wednesday shortly after 4 p.m. from an employee at AutoMax in the 9500 block of Washington Boulevard.

The caller reported that a man, later identified as Prather, came into the business and asked to test drive a car. The employee said the man was acting very suspiciously and kept his hand inside his pocket. The employee requested the man’s driver’s license, which displayed the name Stephon Prather, and made a photocopy.

The employee reported he feared he was about to a victim of an armed robbery and he called 911. He told the dispatcher he saw "the handle of a gun in the man’s jacket."

One officer responded and confronted Prather outside of the business. He refused to take his hand out of his pocket, despite commands from the officer to do so. Two additional officers responded.

When they arrived they also confronted Prather, who had run into the middle of Washington Boulevard Prather immediately opened fire, striking Houk.

Police said the officers returned fire and Prather ran into a nearby wooded area. Throughout the night, hundreds of officers from throughout the region conducted a widespread search using aviation, K-9 and foot patrol units. Prather came out of hiding and surrendered in the morning. Police later found his gun in a storm drain in the woods, where they believe he may have hidden throughout the night.

Prather was taken to Shock Trauma Center with a gunshot wound to the leg Thursday morning after a 17-hour manhunt to find him. Police found Prather walking along Washington Boulevard around 8:45 a.m. Thursday. They confronted him and he surrendered. Investigators believe he sustained the leg injury in a shoot out with police the day before.

Prather was discharged from the hospital late Thursday night and was charged Friday with numerous counts of attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and firearms charges. He is being held at the Howard County Detention Center on no bond.

Police said Houk’s condition continues to improve. He was upgraded to fair condition at Shock Trauma.

The Howard County Police Department said many people have asked where they can send a card to Houk. Cards may be sent to the following address: